What is the ideal font to put your book in if it is in a Microsoft word works processor? I hope this is not a stupid question. I don't want it to be too large but I also want the reader to see the words I'm writing. What do you think?

*does not find this to be a stupid question at all*

Personally...I've been wondering the same thing. I typically just leave it on the default font on my books, but if I'm writing a short story I'll find a pretty font just for the fun of looking at it while I'm writing.

I'm not sure about Microsoft Works, since I just use Word. For my book, though, I use 11 point Times New Roman.

I'm with Raven, I use 11 point Times New Roman.

It depends on if you're planning it just to read yourself, or if you're planning on publishing, or self publishing. For traditional publishing, you're going to want Courier New or Times New Roman, double-spaced (At least, most editors will require that ).

If you're self publishing, you'll want something that is easy to read. Calibri is good, Segoe UI is good, Times New Roman is good, Arial is good - anything readable is good. Make sure the line spacing is at around 1.15 too, to give the reader some breathing room The main thing to remember is that when you're self-publishing you won't have a team at the publishing company who will do everything and finalize it; it'll be you yourself

And of course if you're just setting it for yourself to read whatever you prefer is best

*likes fonts...a lot*

EDIT: El Goog also has some articles about this:
http://www.labnol.org/internet/blogging/which-fonts-should-you-use-for-writing-a-book/3141/
http://www.bookcatcher.com/answers/questions/Is-there-a-book-writing-format_20100912180837AAMycYt.htm

eru

Andrew, you should post those links in Herald's Hall, I'm sure Tim would appreciate them.

Thank you for your replies! I will adhere to them!

@Airi: Is there a fonts thread in HH? Maybe I should start one

eru

I'm not sure... But there should be one.

Shouldn't this entire thread be in HH?

*rolls eyes fondly* Well, I am a big even number person (abhors when the tv volume is on an odd number and in the end always has to fix it in order to enjoy the movie), but 11 looks better than 12, as a rule, I think.

As a small note, in the publishing world, 11 is probably the best font size (at least, I think so) since it's not too big or too small, but for those of you who like small words 10 would be a better font size (that is the size I use when writing soft copy), but I wouldn't suggest doing anything larger than 11...unless you're writing a children's book.

Just a small note, though, that has been my experience...

I'm for the 11.003 size personally...

12 point, double-spaced Times New Roman is the MLA standard.

Do you want me to move the whole thread to HH, Philli?

eru

Thanks, Andrew!

I use 12-point Times New Roman for writing in general. I made a graphic with some possible fonts for the actual published novel once, but I can't remember what most of them are. I think I had Calibri, Poor Richard, High Tower Text, Times New Roman, and some others on there. I have no idea if they're "approved" for publishing, but they looked cool and vaguely fantasyish.

For the book Alina and I are writing, we use size 12 and Garamond font because it goes with the historical fiction feel.

From what I've heard, a standard font sized 11 or 12 point is the best. I have Times New Roman, but someone got on the computer and turned the automatic font set up on my word documents to Liberation Serif.

You might try googling this question. You'll get much more professional responses.

I'm pretty sure it's required to be a serif font most times. (e.g. Times New Roman, Georgia, Liberation, etc.) I believe the guidelines are close or similar to the ones for writing MLA papers. *will dig up his book and be back*

eru

For Red Rain I ended up using classic Times New Roman. It was simple, legible, and not too fancy. Something like Georgia had too much flair for a sci-fi book, but that's what we'll be using for the HW poetry book.

With ebooks, the font was lost to the ereader's default font on several of the versions, so it didn't matter much anyway.

@Philli: Yeah, my nook over-rode that.

eru

When I write, I use Bookman Old Style. I've never published, but I don't like Times New Roman (I'm not sure why - probably used it too much in Elementary School), and Bookman has the same feel, but it's more spread out. Look.
This is Bookman Old Style
This is Times New Roman
This is Andalus
Thse are the three I use the most. I don't like Ariel or Calibri either.